Black Ivory

by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

"Black Ivory" by R. M. Ballantyne is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. It explores themes related to the slave trade in East Africa during a period when British warships aimed to curb this inhumane practice. The story follows Harold Seadrift, the son of a ship charterer, and his loyal companion Disco Lillihammer as they navigate the harsh realities of slavery and seek to uncover the narrative behind the slave trade in Zanzibar and the surrounding regions. At the start of "Black Ivory," readers are introduced to Harold Seadrift and Disco as they survive a shipwreck on the East African coast and become embroiled in the ongoing horrors of the slave trade. They encounter slave traders almost immediately upon landing and manage to escape by hitching a lift aboard a British warship. However, their adventure takes a dark twist as they are eventually captured by slave traders, including the menacing Arab, Yoosoof. The opening chapters powerfully set the stage for an exploration of human suffering and the complex moral dilemmas faced by those caught in the web of slavery and commerce during this tumultuous period.